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- The Tesla Cybertruck is the first stainless-steel vehicle since the ill-fated DeLorean - here's a closer look at both
The Tesla Cybertruck is the first stainless-steel vehicle since the ill-fated DeLorean - here's a closer look at both
The DMC DeLorean was, the context of the auto industry of the late 1970s and early 1980s, a stunner. Nothing else looked like it — the dashing coupé was defined by its gull-wing doors and its stainless-steel skin.
![The Tesla Cybertruck is the first stainless-steel vehicle since the ill-fated DeLorean - here's a closer look at both](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstaticbiassets.in%2Fthumb%2Fmsid-72375878%2Cwidth-700%2Cheight-525%2Cimgsize-77944%2Fthe-dmc-delorean-was-the-context-of-the-auto-industry-of-the-late-1970s-and-early-1980s-a-stunner-nothing-else-looked-like-it-the-dashing-coup-was-defined-by-its-gull-wing-doors-and-its-stainless-steel-skin-.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
The Cybertruck, in the late 2010s and soon-to-be early 2020s, is also like nothing else on the market. Certainly not the truck market.
![The Cybertruck, in the late 2010s and soon-to-be early 2020s, is also like nothing else on the market. Certainly not the truck market.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-72375877,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1058420/the-cybertruck-in-the-late-2010s-and-soon-to-be-early-2020s-is-also-like-nothing-else-on-the-market-certainly-not-the-truck-market-.jpg)
Founder John DeLorean was the most flamboyant personality in the car business, in his day.
![Founder John DeLorean was the most flamboyant personality in the car business, in his day.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-72375876,width-700,height-525,imgsize-89973/founder-john-delorean-was-the-most-flamboyant-personality-in-the-car-business-in-his-day-.jpg)
Tesla CEO Elon Musk is something of the John DeLorean of this era — except that he's far exceeded DeLorean's achievement, selling many more cars and building other companies, including SpaceX.
![Tesla CEO Elon Musk is something of the John DeLorean of this era — except that he](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-72375875,width-700,height-525,imgsize-173792/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-is-something-of-the-john-delorean-of-this-era-except-that-hes-far-exceeded-deloreans-achievement-selling-many-more-cars-and-building-other-companies-including-spacex-.jpg)
DeLorean was hands-on.
![DeLorean was hands-on.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-72375874,width-700,height-525,imgsize-110118/delorean-was-hands-on-.jpg)
And so is Musk.
![And so is Musk.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-72375873,width-700,height-525,imgsize-65590/and-so-is-musk-.jpg)
DeLorean was no stranger to the celebrity circuit. Here he is with Johnny Carson, a DeLorean owner and investor.
![DeLorean was no stranger to the celebrity circuit. Here he is with Johnny Carson, a DeLorean owner and investor.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-72375872,width-700,height-525,imgsize-152730/delorean-was-no-stranger-to-the-celebrity-circuit-here-he-is-with-johnny-carson-a-delorean-owner-and-investor-.jpg)
Musk has marched down a few red carpets in his time.
![Musk has marched down a few red carpets in his time.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-72375871,width-700,height-525,imgsize-47793/musk-has-marched-down-a-few-red-carpets-in-his-time-.jpg)
The DMC DeLorean used 304 stainless steel for its body — that's a relatively common grade of the material.
![The DMC DeLorean used 304 stainless steel for its body — that](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-72375870,width-700,height-525,imgsize-245640/the-dmc-delorean-used-304-stainless-steel-for-its-body-thats-a-relatively-common-grade-of-the-material-.jpg)
The Cybertruck uses what Tesla calls "Ultra-Hard 30X Cold-Rolled stainless-steel." This material is supposed to be superior to 304.
![The Cybertruck uses what Tesla calls "Ultra-Hard 30X Cold-Rolled stainless-steel." This material is supposed to be superior to 304.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-72375869,width-700,height-525,imgsize-877426/the-cybertruck-uses-what-tesla-calls-ultra-hard-30x-cold-rolled-stainless-steel-this-material-is-supposed-to-be-superior-to-304-.jpg)
The DeLorean was designed by the legendary Giorgetto Giugiaro, who has an absolutely staggering resume for a car designer, ranging from Ferraris to Maseratis to humble VWs.
![The DeLorean was designed by the legendary Giorgetto Giugiaro, who has an absolutely staggering resume for a car designer, ranging from Ferraris to Maseratis to humble VWs.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-72375868,width-700,height-525,imgsize-118177/the-delorean-was-designed-by-the-legendary-giorgetto-giugiaro-who-has-an-absolutely-staggering-resume-for-a-car-designer-ranging-from-ferraris-to-maseratis-to-humble-vws-.jpg)
The Cybertruck was penned by Franz von Holzhausen. The Tesla design chief has created every new vehicle for the company since the Model S in 2012 (with a little input from CEO Elon Musk).
![The Cybertruck was penned by Franz von Holzhausen. The Tesla design chief has created every new vehicle for the company since the Model S in 2012 (with a little input from CEO Elon Musk).](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-72375867,width-700,height-525,imgsize-641473/the-cybertruck-was-penned-by-franz-von-holzhausen-the-tesla-design-chief-has-created-every-new-vehicle-for-the-company-since-the-model-s-in-2012-with-a-little-input-from-ceo-elon-musk-.jpg)
Fewer than 10,000 DMCs were built before allegations of drug-trafficking sank John DeLorean's reputation and iffy finances ended the car company.
![Fewer than 10,000 DMCs were built before allegations of drug-trafficking sank John DeLorean](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-72375866,width-700,height-525,imgsize-177397/fewer-than-10000-dmcs-were-built-before-allegations-of-drug-trafficking-sank-john-deloreans-reputation-and-iffy-finances-ended-the-car-company-.jpg)
The Cybertruck isn't even in production yet. Elon Musk has endured his share of legal run-ins, but so far, Tesla is still in business.
![The Cybertruck isn](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-72375865,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1027333/the-cybertruck-isnt-even-in-production-yet-elon-musk-has-endured-his-share-of-legal-run-ins-but-so-far-tesla-is-still-in-business-.jpg)
The DeLorean's fame was revived by the 1985 film "Back to the Future" and the sequels that followed.
![The DeLorean](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-72375864,width-700,height-525,imgsize-70714/the-deloreans-fame-was-revived-by-the-1985-film-back-to-the-future-and-the-sequels-that-followed-.jpg)
The time-machine DeLorean was, basically, a joke. But it saved the DMC from the scrap-heap of history.
![The time-machine DeLorean was, basically, a joke. But it saved the DMC from the scrap-heap of history.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-72375863,width-700,height-525,imgsize-195130/the-time-machine-delorean-was-basically-a-joke-but-it-saved-the-dmc-from-the-scrap-heap-of-history-.jpg)
The Cybertruck has thus far only appeared at a Tesla event and on video. A mishap with its supposedly super-tough window glass is its only media stumble thus far.
![The Cybertruck has thus far only appeared at a Tesla event and on video. A mishap with its supposedly super-tough window glass is its only media stumble thus far.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-72375862,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1243086/the-cybertruck-has-thus-far-only-appeared-at-a-tesla-event-and-on-video-a-mishap-with-its-supposedly-super-tough-window-glass-is-its-only-media-stumble-thus-far-.jpg)
In the movies, the DeLorean's engine was modified to run on fusion technology borrowed from a trip to the future.
![In the movies, the DeLorean](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-72375861,width-700,height-525,imgsize-132851/in-the-movies-the-deloreans-engine-was-modified-to-run-on-fusion-technology-borrowed-from-a-trip-to-the-future-.jpg)
The Cybertruck is a pickup with a "vault" instead of a bed. The top-spec model costs about $70,000 — and full-self-driving tech adds $7,000. The DeLorean sold for $25,000 and couldn't drive itself.
![The Cybertruck is a pickup with a "vault" instead of a bed. The top-spec model costs about $70,000 — and full-self-driving tech adds $7,000. The DeLorean sold for $25,000 and couldn](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-72375860,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1495405/the-cybertruck-is-a-pickup-with-a-vault-instead-of-a-bed-the-top-spec-model-costs-about-70000-and-full-self-driving-tech-adds-7000-the-delorean-sold-for-25000-and-couldnt-drive-itself-.jpg)
The DMC's looks were something, but its performance was feeble. A 130-horsepower V6 yielded a 0-60 mph time of 10.5 seconds.
![The DMC](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-72375859,width-700,height-525,imgsize-219878/the-dmcs-looks-were-something-but-its-performance-was-feeble-a-130-horsepower-v6-yielded-a-0-60-mph-time-of-10-5-seconds-.jpg)
The Cybertruck's fully-electric drivetrain, in tri-motor trim, has 500 miles of range, yields a 0-60 mph time of 2.9 seconds, and can tow over 14,000 pounds (all according to Tesla). The DeLorean ... really wasn't supposed to tow anything.
![The Cybertruck](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-72375858,width-700,height-525,imgsize-543866/the-cybertrucks-fully-electric-drivetrain-in-tri-motor-trim-has-500-miles-of-range-yields-a-0-60-mph-time-of-2-9-seconds-and-can-tow-over-14000-pounds-all-according-to-tesla-the-delorean-really-wasnt-supposed-to-tow-anything-.jpg)
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